England hold a 1-0 lead in their three-match one-day international series with Bangladesh, but were pushed hard before prevailing by three wickets in the opener on Wednesday.
The hosts have a decent recent record on home soil in ODIs and can be backed at 7/4 to level the series 1-1 in the second match, which again takes place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, with another tight encounter expected.
England are 1/12 to win the series overall, while hosts Bangladesh are 7/1.
| What | Bangladesh vs England, second ODI |
| Where | Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur |
| When | 06.00, Friday 3rd March 2023 |
| How to watch | Sky Sports Main Event & Cricket |
| Odds | Bangladesh 7/4, England 4/9 |
Malan edged England home in opener
England demonstrated their excellence in white-ball cricket when winning the Twenty20 World Cup in November last year, defeating Pakistan in the final, but recent ODI performances have not gone to plan.
At the start of 2023, they slipped to a 2-1 ODI series defeat away to South Africa and that was in an environment which suited their style of cricket far better than the conditions facing them in Bangladesh.
They won the opening match of this series by three wickets with eight balls to spare, but England had been on the ropes before a patient but effective Dawid Malan took the initiative with the bat.
Openers Jason Roy and Phil Salt went for a combined 16 runs while skipper Jos Buttler, who was destructive in South Africa in January and February, was out for nine.
Fortunately for England, veteran left-hander Malan kept his cool at the crease, scoring 114 off 145 deliveries, contributing eight fours and four sixes to see England over the line.
He is 7/2 favourite to be Team - Top Batter when the sides clash in Mirpur once again on Friday, but England know they need better batting performances across the board if they are to win this series.
Hosts overpriced to win on home soil
Although England won the opener it was not overly convincing and ultimately boiled down to a fine individual performance.
Big-hitters such as Buttler struggled with the slow-scoring pitch and spin-friendly conditions and Bangladesh should not be written off easily when playing on their own patch.
Indeed, before this meeting with England, Bangladesh had won seven home ODI series on the spin, including a 2-1 victory over India back in December.
England may be defending T20 world champions but that is a different format and they won the trophy on Australian soil, whereas playing in Bangladesh requires a different set of skills.
The first match of the series could have swung either way and for that reason, Bangladesh could be a great bet to win this match at 7/4.
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Spinners should profit in Mirpur
In the series opener, Najmul Hossain Shanto was the pick of the Bangladesh batters, scoring 58, but it was with the ball where his team looked most able to hurt England.
The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium is renowned for aiding slow bowlers and that transpired in the first match, with off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz causing England problems with the ball.
He finished with figures of 2-35, dislodging Will Jacks and Moeen Ali, and he loves playing at this ground.
In the 12 ODIs which Hasan Miraz has played in Mirpur, he has taken 23 wickets and he has got it in him to perform even better than he did in the first match, so he is an interesting Team - Top Bowler option at 10/3.
Alternatively, if punters fancy Bangladesh to win this match, he could offer fine value at 14/1 to be named Player of the Match.
Hasan Miraz's spin is dangerous but he is also adept with the bat, having posted unbeaten scores of 38 and 100 in December's victories at India at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Buttler is a 7/1 shot in the same market, but is arguably worth swerving given the conditions, while experienced Bangladesh talent Shakib Al Hasan is 15/2 and Malan, fresh from his century in the first match, is also 15/2.
